St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-02-19

Iige was our dog. Thunder always
friShtens him." replied. "He's prob
ably hiding somewhere in = state Of
nervous prostratiOn."
We strained the milk and put it away.
and then ate our supper. After this we
re-arranged the dishes and food for
father and mother. keeping fire in the
stove, SO that tea could be made at once
| ON their return. for we knew they would
be both hungry and tired from their
long. dark ride.
The clock struck nine. ''Don't you
think we had better go to bed?" said
Kate. folding up her apron. Il do not
think there is any use in our sitting
up"
Mother will be dreadfully worried
about u.s." l said, as we went up stairs.
There's nothing to be afraid Of"
said Kate. II should not be frightened
if they stayed away all night"
With much laughter we got our big
bottle of complexion varnish." as Kate
called it. Taking a piece Of rag. we
gave to our faces thick coating. which
resembled nothing else had ever seen
before or have seen since.
IL suppose we shall have to sit up to
let it dry in" said, rs contemplated
myself in the glass. 1T won't do for
US to ruin the pillow-cases."
I'm too tired to sit up said Kate.
'.Why can't we make cloth masks?
Where's that old pique spread You were
cutting up yesterday"
produced il from the lower shelf Of
the washstand. and the masks were
soon made. They were simply long
pieces Of white cloth reaching from the
tops of our forcheads to the collars Ut
our night-dresses, with small holes for
the eyes and nostrils. We attached
strings to them, and tied them ON.
I'VE look like veritable spooks."
said Kate. just before she blew out the
light and jumped into bed.
We both soon fell asleep. 1t must
have been near midnight when was
awakened by n noise in the dining
room. which was directly below the
one we occupied. 1t sounded ~ if some
one was moving about stealthily-or
some thing. rather. for 1 decided at
once that it was Tige. Iwaked Kate
by giving her = vigorous punch in the
back.
Kate" said, 1--WE must have shut
old Tige up i'm the dining-room. Very
likely he hid in the china closet when
the storm came on, and fell asleep
there. We must go down and let him
out"
Haven't father and mother comc?'
asked Kate. sleepily.
IL guess not" answered, Il hav-
emit Lard them"
We did not stop tn put on our shoes
or light a candle, but stole down just
rs we were, Jpnd entered the sitting
room, which communicated with the
dining-roOm. by a folding-loor. Adj
vancing to this door, we pushed it open.
expecting to be greeted by Tige's
familiar whine. What was our surprise
and horror to see the back Of one man
in the china closet directly opposite Us,
and burly negro busily engaged by
the light of lantern. in preparing to
take the silver and linen from the
dining-table, in what seemed to be u
stout canvas bag.
Paralyzed with fear. we stood in the
doorway, not able to speak or stir.
scarcely to breathe. The sound made
by the opening Of the door. however.
caused the man at the table to look up.
For one instant he gazesl at US with
dropped jaw. and eyes almost starting
from their sockets, then, giving yell
which might have been heard half q
mile of, he let fall the silver he was
holding, and with one bound was out Of
the open window. His companion,
startled by his Outcry, rushed out Of the
closet in alarm. Pen could not describe
his abject terror, as his eyes fell on us.
and his yell as he sprang toward the
window was even louder than that
which had been given by his com
panion. We could hear the sound Of
their labored breathing as they both
rushed away in the darkness. For a
moment / was at loss to account for
their strange terror; but . glance at
Kate made it clear.
In our long white night-aresses and
white masks we certainly looked like
veritable ghosts. Negroes are exceed
ingly superstitiOus, and these men. am
sure. supposed we were uDquiet spirits
come from the graveyard not far away.
to rebuke them for the crime in which
they were engaged. We spent the rest
Of the night in state Of nervous terror.
which made us heartily glad when at
seven o'clock we heard the sound Of
wheels. and saw our parents drive up to
the door. Owing to the washing away
Of bridge. they had been unable to
get home the previous night. and had
accepted the hospitality Of a farmer
near Warrenton, who had provided
them with supper and bed.
s.And we were in such hurry to find
out if you girls were all right that we
came of before breakfast" said father.
ibid you miss us? Were you fright
ened?'
Then with shuddering and tears we
told our story. and were alternately
kissed and cried over by mother. who
declared that never, nsrer would she
leave us alone again. even il there were
fjay deeds to sign.
As to that complexion varnish. one
application showed no favorable re-
| .,,lts and we never felt like tryinv IL